Abstract: A cross-corrugated support structure includes a sheet having a first and a second set of corrugations. The first set of corrugations is defined by a series of alternating ridges and grooves that extend the length of the sheet in a first direction. The second set of corrugations is also defined by a series of ridges and grooves that extend the length of the sheet in a second direction that intersects with the first direction. The intersection of the first and second set of corrugations creates cross-corrugations throughout the sheet. To provide compressive and tensile strengths suitable for large-scale construction applications, the sheet may be made of a carbonaceous material such as carbon fiber or graphite treated to rigidly retain a shape including the first and second set of corrugations within the sheet. The sheet may be reinforced by securing support members or additional corrugated sheets to the sheet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing cross-corrugated support structures is provided. A mold having a molding surface with a first plurality and a second plurality of corrugations therein is used to introduce corrugations into a flexible, carbonaceous sheet. Cross-corrugations are introduced into the sheet by placing the sheet onto the molding surface, encapsulating the sheet to form a vacuum chamber, and evacuating the vacuum chamber of air. As air is evacuated from the vacuum chamber, the sheet is drawn upon the molding surface causing the sheet to conform to the shape of the molding surface. Thermosetting resin is infused into the sheet and cured causing the sheet to rigidly retain the shape of the molding surface. The sheet is further reinforced by securing at least one support member to the sheet using thermosetting resin.

Abstract: The present development is a process to produce commodity chemicals such as methanol and syngas using an integrated plasma catalysis technology. The method comprises providing a fixed or fluidized bed reactor having a microwave plasma flame and a catalyst bed with a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is an alloyed bimetallic nanowire. In the process, the plasma flame fluidizes the catalyst thereby producing a more effective catalyst than the non-fluidized catalyst. It is anticipated that the reactor can have a throughput capacity of up to 30 Lpm/kW and can be effective for the conversion of CO2, CH4, air, water, and combinations thereof, through reactions such as pure CO2 splitting, reverse water gas shift (RWGS) for CO production, methanol synthesis, and plasma reforming of methane, thereby making a system that would be attractive for small GTL units.

Abstract: A system for processing scrap material that includes a variable-power electromagnetic drum separator wherein shredded scrap material is placed in free fall at a position proximate the electromagnetic drum separator. A first fraction of the scrap material is attracted to the electromagnetic drum separator and is carried under the rotational axis of the electromagnetic drum separator thereby separating the first fraction of material from a second fraction of the material which continues to free fall and wherein the first fraction is a low-copper ferrous material with the second fraction having a higher non-ferrous content than the first fraction. A magnetic drum separator may be positioned upstream of the variable-power electromagnetic drum separator and be used to separate non-ferrous materials. The variable-power electromagnetic drum separator may be adjusted so that the second fraction includes some ferrous material. A robotic picker may be used to remove undesirable materials from the second fraction.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a sheet structure from paper and/or paperboard material, which provides a thickness dimension ordinarily associated with corrugated paperboard material. The sheet structure is constructed from a first planar linerboard sheet and a second non-planar linerboard sheet, wherein a plurality of projections are cut and folded from the second linerboard sheet and are adhesively coupled to the first linerboard sheet, such that portions of the projections define a standoff between the first and second linerboard sheets.

Abstract: Described are improved dental materials and appliances made therefrom that have a range of flexibility and strength and exhibit improved comfort and effectiveness in orthodontic and other treatment.

Abstract: Improved dental appliances and polymeric sheet compositions are disclosed. The polymeric sheet compositions are useful for making dental appliances having outer layers comprised of a material having a modulus of from about 1,000 MPA to 2,500 MPA (“hard”) and an inner core comprised of elastomeric material or materials having a modulus of from about 50 MPa to 500 MPa (“soft”), which exhibit improved flexibility and strength, and better stain and tear resistance than currently available materials and dental appliances.

Abstract: This patent application claims the use of directed energy in the form of electronically scanned ion beams to form plastic parts by selectively curing commodity or engineering resin in the shape of the part. Polymerization is limited to the vicinity of the controlled Bragg-peak of the ion beam (i.e., where linear energy transfer is maximized), if necessary, by the use of chemical polymerization inhibitors or conditions that inhibit polymerization.

Abstract: A window assembly includes a polymer (e.g., polyvinyl chloride, vinyl) window frame made and a glass unit carried by the window frame. The window frame includes a pair of jambs and an astragal that extends between and interconnects the pair of jambs. The jambs have a channel or slot sized to receive therethrough one or more end walls of the astragal so that at least a portion of said one or more end walls extend into a hollow cavity in the jambs that is in fluid communication with one or more weep holes of the window assembly. The one or more end walls of the astragal and channel or slot of the jambs define a flow path configured to channel water from the astragal, through the channel or slot in the jambs and into the hollow cavity such that said water exits the hollow cavity and the window assembly via the one or more weep holes.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing electronic devices employing wet-strippable underlayer compositions comprising a condensate and/or hydrolyzate of a polymer comprising as polymerized units one or more first unsaturated monomers having a condensable silicon-containing moiety, wherein the condensable silicon-containing moiety is pendent to the polymer backbone, and one or more condensable silicon monomers are provided.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are presented in which aragonite, and especially oolitic aragonite particles are used as infill material in an artificial turf structure or as sub-growth substrate for natural grass. Advantageously, oolitic aragonite particles provide: a superior microporous surface for effective water saturation to impart thermal control and environmental compatibility; ammonia neutralization of urine by reducing urea hydrolysis with the free calcium presented in the aragonite particles; and aragonite particle uniformity allowing for reduced compaction and desirable water draining.

Abstract: The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of this gas processing system.

Abstract: A reconstituted-leather-manufacturing process includes a progressively increasing application of pressure to an aqueous leather solution to form a web of leather fibers. The solution/web may be dewatered to an extent before the first application of a pressure so that the solution/web consistency is on the order 29-55% (fiber to web/solution, by weight) when the first pressure of the progressive sequence of pressures is applied. Tannin (and various chemicals) may be added to the solution. The progressive pressing of the solution/web may be followed by a progressive drying of the web by application of a sequence of increasing temperatures via drying vessels.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, and uses of aragonite biobased polymer plastic compositions are presented having increased strength and stiffness as well as improved recyclability and/or biodegradability. The aragonite biobased plastic compositions include aragonite blended in a dispersion with a biobased polymer and optionally includes a petroleum-based polymer and/or a compatibilizer.

Abstract: Compositions and methods in which aragonite, and especially oolitic aragonite particles are used as infill material in an artificial turf structure or as sub-growth substrate for natural grass. Advantageously, oolitic aragonite particles provide: a superior microporous surface for effective water saturation to impart thermal control and environmental compatibility; ammonia neutralization of urine by reducing urea hydrolysis with the free calcium presented in the aragonite particles; and aragonite particle uniformity allowing for reduced compaction and desirable water draining.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are personal care and/or cosmetic compositions, comprising a carrier and oolitic aragonite beads having an average diameter between 10 nm to 10 mm. Also disclosed herein are methods of reducing plastic contamination and/or pollution comprising making a cosmetic or personal care composition, wherein at least a portion to all (100%) of the plastic microbeads in the cosmetic or personal care composition are replaced with oolitic aragonite. Also disclosed herein are a milling system and milling methods for producing oolitic aragonite particles having a clean top size in which the particles are screened to remove any oversized particles. Additional uses include drug-loaded aragonite particles for therapeutic drug delivery and chromatography media.

Abstract: The present invention provides a quantum dot light emitting diode comprising i) an emitting layer of at least one semiconductor nanoparticle made from semiconductor materials selected from the group consisting of Group II-VI compounds, Group II-V compounds, Group III-VI compounds, Group III-V compounds, Group IV-VI compounds, Group I-III-VI compounds, Group II-IV-VI compounds, Group II-IV-V compounds, or any combination thereof; and ii) a polymer for hole injection or hole transport layer, comprising one or more triaryl aminium radical cations having the structure (S1).

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing electronic devices employing wet-strippable underlayer compositions comprising one or more condensed polymers having an organic polymer chain having pendently-bound moieties having an acidic proton and a pKa in water from ?5 to 13 and having pendently-bound siloxane moieties are provided.